Trinidad and Tobago Basketball (Men)

Longdenville outplayed Enterprise in the second half of their Hoop of Life Community Basketball League match on Sunday to come away with a 12-point win at the Longdenville Court on Sunday. The visitors, who were looking for their sixth straight win, jumped out to a 13-17 lead at the end of the first quarter.

While they were outscored in the second period, they went into the half with a slim 28-29 advantage. However, the home team would turn things around in the third quarter and take the lead. Longdenville scored 17 points in the period while holding their opponents to 12 to take a 46-40 advantage heading into the final quarter.

The last ten minutes were full of action as the teams went at each other but in the end home team eased to victory as they were able to outscore Enterprise 23-17.

Longdenville, who have now won three in a row, were led by Tyson Gangaraway with 16 points. He got valuable support from Joel Morgan and Elton Crichlow with 14 and 13 points respectively.

Austin Ralph led all scorers with 17 points, while Kofi Campbell added 15 and Karlus Cruickshank chipped with 10.

Meanwhile, Devon Waddell scored a league-high 48 points to pilot Palo Seco to a 73-67 upset win over Siparia at Bennette Village Basketball Court, Santa Flora in their South Sector I match. The win halted Siparias six-game winning streak.

Siparia, who dominated Palo Seco 71-64 in December at Irwin Park, trailed in all four quarters of the contest as Waddle took it to the visitors.

Waddle had 15 of his teams 21 points at the end of the first half in which they held a two point advantage, 38-36. He then turned the heat up in the second period adding 23 as Palo Seco outscored Siparia 35-31 to take the match. Shem Grant was the leading scorer for the visitors with 18 points.

Defence Force won the inaugural Barry Stewart Invitation Tournament on Saturday night at the Jean Pierre Complex, Port of Spain. The Army team scored their second successive victory, 80-65, over arch rivals Detour Shak Attack in Game 2 of the Best of Three contest. Unlike Game 1, Defence Force came out firing from the jump-ball and restricted Detour attack thus gaining an early 20-6 lead at the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter, Shak Attack inspired by their key player Kur... [read more]

Defence Force won the inaugural Barry Stewart Invitation Tournament on Saturday night at the Jean Pierre Complex, Port of Spain. The Army team scored their second successive victory, 80-65, over arch rivals Detour Shak Attack in Game 2 of the Best of Three contest.

Unlike Game 1, Defence Force came out firing from the jump-ball and restricted Detour attack thus gaining an early 20-6 lead at the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter, Shak Attack inspired by their key player Kurt Koto Christian, who top-scored with 21pts, rallied back as both teams scored 18pts apiece in a tough battle. However, Defence Force still maintained the advantage, 38-24.

With the title up for grasps, Shak Attack rallied on and control the tempo by outscoring Defence Force 27-22. At the end of the third quarter the deficit was reduced to a single digit, 60-51. But, in the decisive session Defence Force regained their momentum and shut out Shak Attack 20-14 to secure the title.

For the Army team, national standout Steven Lighter Lewis scored a game high 22pts, which included three shots from beyond the arc. Center Kevan Bacquain had 15 and Keyon Joseph added 13pts. For Shak Attack, Christian was supported by veteran Andy Best with 16pts, which included two 3-pointers while Wilt Vincent chipped in with 9pts.

Trinidad & Tobago Defence Force basketball team scored a thrilling 81-66 win over Detour Shak Attack in Game 1 of their Best of Three Finals in the Barry Stewart Invitation Tournament. The contest was played on Thursday night at the Jean Pierre Complex, Port of Spain. From the tip-off Shak Attack jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead with successive shots from ex-Defence Force center Wilt Vincent, Kurt Koto Christian and a Kern George 3-pointer. However, a quick transition layup by Keyon Joseph... [read more]

Trinidad & Tobago Defence Force basketball team scored a thrilling 81-66 win over Detour Shak Attack in Game 1 of their Best of Three Finals in the Barry Stewart Invitation Tournament. The contest was played on Thursday night at the Jean Pierre Complex, Port of Spain.

From the tip-off Shak Attack jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead with successive shots from ex-Defence Force center Wilt Vincent, Kurt Koto Christian and a Kern George 3-pointer. However, a quick transition layup by Keyon Joseph and a monster dunk from veteran Steven Lighter Lewis who dribble past three defenders from mid-court changed the tempo in favor of the Army team. At the end of the 1st quarter, Defence Force went ahead 29-23 with their starters on the bench.

Early in the second quarter, coach Toney reinstated his starters who scored several transition baskets which included three pointers from Joseph and Lewis. As result, Shak Attack felt further back being outscored 19-12. Defence Force enjoyed a 48-35 lead at the end of the period.

Despite Christian, Vincent and Williams' persistence at both ends of the court, Defence Force maintained their advantage. Again, Lewis excited the fans with another dunk as the Army team took the first game of the series. The third quarter ended 62-48 for the Defence Force who had a strong fan and army base presence.

For Defence Force, Keyon Joseph had a game high 25pts including three from beyond the arc. While, Lewis added 22pts with four 3pointers. Jamille King added 9pts for the winners.

For Detour Shak Attack, their inspirational leader Christian top-scored with 23pts, Vincent had 12pts and veteran Miguel Williams got 9pts. Game two of the finals will be played on Saturday from 7.30pm at the same venue.

Meanwhile in the other contest, Petro Jazz blew out Trinidad & Tobago Police Service basketball team 104-65 to capture the third place. It was a lackluster contest as a depleted Police team were unable to stop Jazz assault as they were continuously beaten on transition for most possessions.

After a close 1st quarter, which ended 20-19 for Jazz, Police failed to maintain their rhythm. By the second half the score was 46-38 for Jazz. Eventually, the other period ended 73-49 and in the final session Jazz pulled away further by outscoring their opponents 31-16.

Kevin Sargeant had a game high 36pts for the southern-based Petro Jazz, Lazaro Campbell scored 20pts while Delroy Agard added 12pts. For Police, guard Ronell Winter labored all night for 25pts. While, Jesse Hamilton contributed 11pts in a losing effort for fourth position.

Despite senior point guard Khadeen Carrington heroics of 14 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds and a team high 3 steals the No. 19 Seton Hall men's basketball team still fell to No. 11 Xavier, 73-64, before a sellout home crowd at the Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey on Saturday. Teammate Desi Rodriguez top scored with 19 points. The defeat was Seton Hall's first home loss of the season, snapping a 13-game winning streak that started last season. This includes an 11-0 start to the home sc... [read more]

Despite senior point guard Khadeen Carrington heroics of 14 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds and a team high 3 steals the No. 19 Seton Hall men's basketball team still fell to No. 11 Xavier, 73-64, before a sellout home crowd at the Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey on Saturday. Teammate Desi Rodriguez top scored with 19 points. The defeat was Seton Hall's first home loss of the season, snapping a 13-game winning streak that started last season. This includes an 11-0 start to the home schedule.

Over in Texas, T&T duo of center Johnny Hamilton and point guard Mairega Clarke helped the UTA Mavericks to a heavy-handed 71-55 win over the ULM Warhawks, on Saturday evening at College Park Center. Hamilton had 6pts, a team-leading 11rebs and 4blks, while Clarke added seven points and three rebounds. It was Hamilton 2nd highest single game total of the season. His 42 blocks this season is the 5th highest single season total in program history. He surpassed Paul Renfro (43, 1979-80) and Trey Parker (44, 2008-09) on the program's list.

Meanwhile, UTA Head Coach Scott Cross stated that Clarke has been dealing with an illness and struggling. " He's been a guy he felt that could help the basketball team." Cross added that when they picked up the full-court press Clarke's intensity and length and athleticism was disruptive. 'He's also one of our better 3-point shooters, he can also drive and finish. With him it's just about getting him confidence and game reps. So it was nice for him to get in and play some valuable minutes and he really made an impact on that basketball game."

UTA have now won four of its last six games in January.

On the professional circuit, Kyle Rowley tallied 14pts & 6rebs as Castello scored a close 73-70 away win over 11th ranked Palencia Baloncesto on January 19. With the win Castello moved up to 6th place with a 11-9 record in the Spanish LEB Gold League. While in the EBA Division, 6-11 Richard Peters scored a double-double, 14pts & 10rebs, in a losing effort on January 20. It was a surprise win for Naron (7-10) over Carbajosa (8-9). With loss Carbajos dropped to 9th place with four consecutive losses. Thus far, Peters is averaging 8.8pts and 5.8rebs in the six games he played for Carbajosa since transferring from Plasencia (LEB Silver Division).

Across in Denmark, Bakken coach praised Devaughn Akoon-Purchell. According to FIBA Daily (18/1/2018), Bakken Bears Head Coach Steffen Wich, stated that the large part of their team's success can be attributed to the high-flying star DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell, who has carried the team on his back plenty of times this season.

Coach Wich further added that top scorer Akoon-Purcell was very well guarded by their defense. It was like going to a party wearing three jackets. The guard confirmed his stand-out status on the team by making the decisive free-throw in the first Second Round game in Minsk, nailing an overtime game-winner in the second, and leaving his fingerprints all over the latest triumph with 11 fourth-quarter points.

Bakken Bears have qualified from the Group Phase of an international competition three times, but have never tallied more than a single victory in the phase that followed before bowing out. Having reached previously unseen levels of success in the FIBA Europe Cup this year, some pressure will be mounting on Bakken Bears to take this historic opportunity as far as possible. Hopefully, Akoon-Purchell will led their magical spell in the FIBA Europe Cup to a happy ending.

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